3 years later how’s this holding up? I just purchased the same supplies.
Spare Tire Modifications
- Thread starter Greg B
- Start date
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Just got back from Moab and finally got around to doing the spare tire mod. My specifics: 2006 Land Cruiser with new BFG K03 AT 275/70R18 tires.
Due to limits based in where the vapor canister is, I was only able to raise the spare tire cross member 3/4”. From one of the other posts I thought that this wouldn’t be an issue but it is in the way. I would need to relocate the canister about 2-3” then maybe the forward part of the tire could go a bit higher and touch the bar less?
I flipped the front bracket but the tire does not touch it and really it is higher than the canister. For my truck I may get two more steel wedges, put it right side up again, and let the wedges give me the space I need.
Did not add any spacers to the cross member tire winch and it doesn’t need it. The spare touches the rear bracket plus the cross member and is tight. The tire is rubbing on the panhard bar…more so now with brand new tires.
Honestly thinking all I really needed to do was put the wedges under the rear bar which would allow the tire to be tucked up even with the trailer hitch aka rear bumper slider.
Due to limits based in where the vapor canister is, I was only able to raise the spare tire cross member 3/4”. From one of the other posts I thought that this wouldn’t be an issue but it is in the way. I would need to relocate the canister about 2-3” then maybe the forward part of the tire could go a bit higher and touch the bar less?
I flipped the front bracket but the tire does not touch it and really it is higher than the canister. For my truck I may get two more steel wedges, put it right side up again, and let the wedges give me the space I need.
Did not add any spacers to the cross member tire winch and it doesn’t need it. The spare touches the rear bracket plus the cross member and is tight. The tire is rubbing on the panhard bar…more so now with brand new tires.
Honestly thinking all I really needed to do was put the wedges under the rear bar which would allow the tire to be tucked up even with the trailer hitch aka rear bumper slider.
This is just about right flipping the metal bar close to the panhard. I think it was 22mm was the max length of the spacer and still fit the cross member under the evaporator canister.
Your picture with rear bar with the bracket:
Can be removed. That way when you crank up the spare tire, you can pull the spare tire towards the rear since that metal is no longer in the way it will give you additional room to clear the tire from the rear panhard. I have 35x12.5 spare tire and this approach worked for me. I have about 15mm clearance tire to panhard, your 33s should yield more.
Took some time this morning and removed the rear spare bar completely. No more room for me on my 2006 LC100 since I still have the hitch crossmember that limits the location of the spare. If this hitch was removed I could see that the tire could move back some and away from the panhard bar.
@OEMGUY0720 did your LC come with a hitch below the bumper or did you remove it?
Yes that’s the way to go to create the clearance you’re looking for between the spare tire and panhard. My 06LX came with a factory hitch receiver and I removed it as well as the steel cross member above it to fit the 35x12.5 spare tire.
GTV
SILVER Star
There are essentially three points of contact; the small front bar, the bolt in crossmember that holds the winch, and the rear bar. All three need to be on the same plane front to back in order for the tire to be supported properly.
I removed my front bar so the spare now rests directly on the crossmember and the rear bar so the spare rests on the bumper step plate. I tried raising the spare crossmember just 3/4" but that wasn't high enough, the spare was not making contact with the forward crossmember so it was loose. I raised the crossmember 1 1/4" and that tightened it up against all three points. I also spaced the winch down off the crossmember to keep the crank off the pinch weld.
I removed my front bar so the spare now rests directly on the crossmember and the rear bar so the spare rests on the bumper step plate. I tried raising the spare crossmember just 3/4" but that wasn't high enough, the spare was not making contact with the forward crossmember so it was loose. I raised the crossmember 1 1/4" and that tightened it up against all three points. I also spaced the winch down off the crossmember to keep the crank off the pinch weld.
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GTV
SILVER Star
Right... I was able to go an extra 1/2" because I have a 1/2" body lift. You'll have to move the canister.
if you push the canister to the driver side and forward plus rotate it a little, there are another set of threaded holes that work with the oem hoses, and it lets you stagger it out from in-between the crossmember and the body. the other thing that helped me fit the 35,12.5,17 under was just removing the front and rear restraint bars, if i recall it rubs on the Panhard bar either way, and the rear one doesn't need to be there with a bigger tire.
this was when we were still on AHC, but the tire was so far up, the rear end of the tire had to be pushed down to get the tool in to lower the tire.
GTV
SILVER Star
You had to push it down because you removed the bumper step plate allowing the tire to go straight up to the body. My tire rests against the step plate leaving a small gap to insert the tool.
